10/8/2014 12:30 PM PDT

Retired "Girls Gone Wild" owner Joe Francis and his girlfriend just gave birth to twin Mexican girls -- well, technically, since she gave birth in Mexico -- and the newborn babes already have a fairy godmother -- Kris Jenner.

Joe's partner, Abbey, delivered two healthy girls -- Alexandria Claire and Athena Olivia -- Tuesday at a hospital in Puerto Vallarta ... and since they were born in Mexico, they're automatically given Mexican citizenship.

Sources close to the family tell us ... the babies are already being showered with gifts ... including pink Hermes blankets and Hermes clothing courtesy of Kris Jenner and the Kardashians.

The couple -- who live in Punta Mita -- conceived the girls through in vitro fertilization -- which can allow parents to choose the sex and other characteristics of their child. Francis said they chose IVF to make sure their babies were healthy and free of genetic illnesses.

8/29/2014 1:50 PM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Joe Francis is now facing 7 misdemeanor counts for his alleged attack at "Girls Gone Wild" headquarters, and a judge has issued a warrant for his arrest.

TMZ broke the story ... Joe got busted back in May after scrapping with a security guard and a 'GGW' employee at his old office. He was also hauled in for violating a restraining order that required him to stay away from the building.

Now prosecutors have charged Joe with 1 count of criminal threats, 2 counts trespassing, 1 count of battery, and 3 counts of disobeying a court order.

According to a source close to Joe ... he actually called cops the night of the arrest, because he says the security guard attacked HIM. We're told there is surveillance video to support Joe's claim.

As for the restraining order, Joe believed 'GGW' had moved out of the building ... so he felt the order no longer applied. Plus, we're told he had only gone there to pick up belongings from his old office.

2/13/2014 1:00 PM PST

EXCLUSIVE

BestBreastsEver.com ... MardiGrasInvasion.net ... SpringBreakExplosion.com ... WeddingSubmissionVideo.com -- all these domain names and more are FOR SALE ... thanks to the "Girls Gone Wild" bankruptcy fiasco ... and some dumbass has already bid millions.

GGW filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year -- and it's now selling off assets to pay off its multi-million-dollar debts ... assets that include a laundry list of ludicrous domain names associated with the soft core porn brand. Here are a few more examples:

-- BannedFromTV.com-- HottestMomentsEver.com-- MyExGFClub.com-- SexStarvedCollegeGirls.net-- And practically every other GGW-themed name you can think of (GirlsGoneWild.com, GGWbus.com, GGWcams.com, GGWdating.com, GGWmagazine.com ... you get the point)

All told, 69 domain names are on the auction block ... a convenient number.

So far, a third party company called GGW Acquisitions has already placed an offer to acquire the assets -- a deal that includes $1.8 million in cash and a promise to take on some of GGW's old debt -- but others can still outbid it.

It's unclear who's behind the company, but sources tell TMZ, it is NOT affiliated with Joe Francis or anyone at the original GGW.

8/27/2013 6:15 PM PDT

Breaking News

Joe Francis tells TMZ, his 270-day jail sentence for assault and false imprisonment is "ridiculous" and "absurd" ... and he won't rest until it's thrown out.

As we reported, Francis was sentenced Tuesday for assaulting a woman at his home in 2011 and falsely imprisoning her friends, but on his way out of jail moments ago ... he still insisted, "I'm one hundred percent innocent."

Francis says he has appealed the jail sentence, which means he won't have to turn himself in until a judge shoots down his request ... which could theoretically take years.

But Francis says it's a non-issue anyway ... because he's still sure he'll emerge victorious in the end.

8:41 AM PT -- We're told Francis is on his way to the court -- and should arrive momentarily.

It's D-Day for Joe Francis ... the day the "Girls Gone Wild" mogul will learn his sentence for attacking a woman at his Hollywood mansion back in 2011 ... and he's facing serious time behind bars.

TMZ will be streaming live from inside the L.A. courtroom when Joe faces the judge later today. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 8:30 AM PT.

As we previously reported, 3 women had accused Joe of taking them to his Hollywood home -- following a night out -- and refusing to let them leave. He was also accused of attacking one of the women, choke-slamming her head into his tile floor.

Francis was convicted on 5 charges total, including assault, 3 counts of false imprisonment, and 1 count of dissuading a witness from reporting.

Never one to go down without a fight -- Francis recently filed court docs demanding a new trial based on allegations of insufficient evidence. We'll see if the judge buys his argument when the hearing begins.

6/18/2013 12:20 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

Joe Francis and his hot blonde GF can't thank Steve Hirsch enough for snatching their sex tape off the market -- in fact, Joe's GF has even sent the Vivid honcho a thank-you letter, gushing about how Steve kept her private parts ... private.

TMZ has obtained a copy of the letter Abbey Wilson sent to Hirsch. Here's the transcript:

Steve,

Joe has always said what a stand up guy you are in business and what a great friend you are. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping Joe and I out in this unfortunate situation. It's calming to know that we have such a loyal, true friend when an unexpected problem arises. You are a compassionate, warm hearted, and caring man that we are so grateful to have in our lives.

Thank you again, Abbey Wilson

As we reported, a sex tape featuring Wilson and the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho was being shopped to various media outlets. Francis had threatened to sue everyone and their mother over the tape, claiming it was stolen from Wilson's iPad.

When the person selling the tape went to Vivid, Hirsch did Francis a solid and purchased it (for an unknown sum). He then returned the footage to Francis and promised never to release it.

It was an especially big deal for Abbey and Francis ... because neither has ever appeared naked on the Internet (shocking, we know).

6/17/2013 4:30 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

The Joe Francis sex tape has been PURCHASED by a major porn company ... but the footage will never, ever, ever, ever see the light of day, TMZ has learned.

We broke the story ... a sex tape featuring the "Girls Gone Wild" honcho and his smoking hot girlfriend was being shopped to various media outlets. Francis had threatened to sue everyone and their mother over the tape, claiming it was stolen from his GF's iPad.

But Francis can call off his legal pit bulls (for a change) ... thanks to a HUUUUGE favor from Vivid Entertainment honcho Steve Hirsch.

Turns out, the two porn moguls are friends (same porny circles) ... and when the person selling the tape went to Vivid, Steve decided to do Francis a solid and snatched it off the market (price: unknown).

Hirsch then turned around and gave all of the footage to Joe, along with the promise he'd never release the tape.

As for why the porn kings didn't involve police ... Hirsch told us, "Because of the time-sensitive nature of the situation I made a decision to expedite the process and return the movie to its original owner."

6/5/2013 1:00 AM PDT

EXCLUSIVE

"Girls Gone Wild" founder Joe Francis is the star of a brand new hardcore sex tape ... problem is, he claims it was STOLEN from his longtime GF ... and now he's threatening legal action, TMZ has learned.

The footage -- shot several weeks ago -- features Francis getting down and dirty with his girlfriend Abbey Wilson -- who (deservedly) won the GGW "Search for the Hottest Girl in America" contest back in 2012.

We know ... the footage contains material from several sexual liaisons ... and it's currently being shopped to various media outlets.

Francis tells TMZ ... he has NOTHING to do with the tape's release -- and, ironically, he's trying desperately to stop it from going public by THREATENING the person who has it.

Joe claims the footage was ripped off of Abbey's iPad -- which was recently stolen from her bag at LAX.

Francis' lawyer, David Houston, tells TMZ, "It is not only unfortunate, but it is a crime. As such, this office will take all necessary steps to determine who in fact has done this and who is attempting to distribute the video."

Joe's attorney says they have already contacted the authorities -- and want to deliver a strong warning to whoever has the footage:

"When we catch you, we will see that you are prosecuted to the fullest extent of both the criminal and civil laws."